Women's shelters full, but male victims have even fewer options

Even before the pandemic, the numbers were dramatic: in 2019, more than 140,000 people apparently experienced intimate partner violence, according to the Federal Criminal Police Office. 81 percent of these were women (although men vastly under-report when women are the abusers), who in about half of the cases lived in the same household with the perpetrator. Getting out of these relationships takes an average of seven years. In an expensive city like Munich, then it can perhaps take even longer. That's because in addition to various feelings made up of a mixture of shame and obligation, money is often a factor in why women stay with their partners, according to women's charities. Yet little is said regaring the needs of men, which are nearly totally and universally ignored.

Because housing is so expensive, women in Munich would stay in abusive homes longer than elsewhere, says city councilor Wenngatz, apparently ignoring the plight of men in similar circumstances. Last year, the city decided to build two new women's shelters with 48 places. Wenngatz cannot say when they will be ready, but by then there would be 126 places in Munich. But it's already clear that won't be enough. According to an EU agreement, there should be 156 places in Munich. Today, there are not even half that many. One problem, according to the SPD politician is that Munich has to bear the costs for the women's shelters alone. The Free State participates in it too little. "The city does what it can," says SPD City Councilor Julia Schmitt-Thiel. "But it can't do it alone."

What is interesting to note however, is that men have practically nowhere to turn to when faced with domestic violence, partly due to the feminist grip on what has now become a huge boom industry. False accusations, female-perpetrated violence and other more subtle causes are leading to a large number of males being made homeless and charities completely failing to provide services for them, instead dedicating all their money, time and resources to females only, the very definition of sexism which they claim to oppose. A huge body of evidence shows domestic violence is non-gendered, yet only females are being treated as potential victims. Time for a rethink on how we handle domestic abuse and provide treatment for all victims, irrespective of gender.

Image by Markus Winkler